Automatic condenser



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. SOHUTTE. AUTOMATIC CONDENSER.

Pa ented May 6, 1890.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 2.

L. SOHUTTE. AUTOMATIG CONDENSER.

No. 427,193. gg g n ggd May 6, 1890.

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(No Model.)

L. SOHUT TE.

AUTOMATIC CONDENSER.

No. 427,193. Patente d MaJ 6, 189.0

.ZSCQMEZ 516091 'VHTNESSES mvnnon f ue 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS SOHUTTE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,193, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed January 18, 1890. Serial No. 337,324. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS SOHUTTE, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Condensers, of

which the following is a specification.

The aim of myinvention is to effect the automatic regulation of a condenser according to the duty which it has to perform, or, in other words, to automatically increase or decrease the capacity of the condenser in due relation to variations in the rate of steam-delivery thereto.

The object of the invention is to maintain an efficient and economical action of the condenser by securing, on the one hand, a proper delivery of water toinsure the condensation of all the steam received, and, on the other hand, to prevent the delivery to the condenser of more water than is necessary.

The invention is based upon the fact that the condensing-water is discharged at a higher temperature than that at which it was received, and that the increase in temperature depends upon the relation which the volume of steam bears to the volume of condensingwater. Taking advantage of this fact, I employ in connection with the condenser, whatever its form, suitable devices for regulating its capacity and operate these regulating devices by thermostatic devices, which are in turn acted upon by the water. If the temperature of the water falls below the proper limit, whichis an indication that an excessive volume of water is being employed, the thermostatic devices act to diminish the watersupply. If, on the other hand,the water rises above the predetermined temperature, which is an indication that the volume is insufficient to secure an eflfectual and economic condensation, the thermostatic devices operate to increase the water-supply.

My invention may be embodied in a variety of forms the mechanical equivalents of those hereinafter described, and may be applied to condensers of many forms, as will be apparentafter a reading of this specification.

The invention is intended. mainly for application to what are known as induction or jet condensers, in which the exhaust-steam to be condensed is directed through a tube or nozzles in such manner as to induce an inflow of the condensing-water, and when used in this class of apparatus my regulating devices are employed to vary the size of the exhaust-inlets or the area of the water-passage, or both. It is to be distinctly understood, however, that my invention includes in the broadest sense the application of a thermostat which is subject to the influence of the con- (lensing-water to regulate the quantity of water flowing through the condenser, whatever its form, or otherwise varying the capacity of the condenser as its constructionmay require.

If the invention is employed in connection with a condenser operated by a pump, athermostat may be employed to regulate the supply of steam for the operating-pump, so as to vary its speed, or it may be applied to vary the throw of the pump, and thus change the rate of water-delivery. devices employed between the thermostat and condenser to govern the latter are not of the essence of my invention. They may be varied at will within the range of mechanical skill and as the peculiar form or construction of special condensers may require.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an inductioncondenser with my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a section through the same on the line 2 2, portions being shown in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a view looking downward from the line 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation show ing in outline my invention applied to an independent air-pump condenser. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the same applied to an air-pump condenser operated by an engine.

The condenser shown in Figs. 1 to 4is', with the exception of the automatic regulating devices hereinafter described in detail, of essentially the same construction as that represented in Letters Patent of the United States issued to me on the 27th day of November, 1888, No. 393,488.

Referring to the condenser proper, A represents a pipe through which the Water for condensing purposes is delivered into the chamber B, whence it is delivered through a The connections or central nozzle 0 in a downward direction into operation of the condenser.

' suitable fluid under pressure.

the upper end of a tube or nozzle D, commonly known as the combining-tube, and having through its walls a series of slots or inlets d, extending inward in a downward direction, for the purpose of admitting exhauststeam to be condensed into the interior of the tube, where it impinges upon the condensing-water, so that, although condensed by contact therewith, it acts to maintain the flow of water.

The exhaust-steam from the engine or other source of supply is admitted through the neck E and valve F into the chamber G, which surrounds the combining-tube. It is from this chamber that it passes through the slots d into said tube. The condensing-water and the water resulting from condensation are delivered from the lower end of the combiningtube through the expanding tube or nozzle'H, and thence through the final delivery-pipe I at the base. A central nozzle J at the top of the apparatus is employed to deliver live steam through the nozzle 0, in order to initiate the A central ram or spindle K, adjustable vertically, serves to vary the area of the water-passage through the combining-tube D, while a vertically-adj ustable sleeve L, surrounding the combining-tube, serves to cover a greater or less number of the steam-inlets, as may be required, and thus regulate the steam-admission.

The spindle shown difiers from those I have heretofore used in having its lower end pointed and the guides at the end omitted. A lateral projection on the upper end of the spindle is adj ustablyconnected to a vertical rod Z, the lower end of which is provided with a projection Z, engaging the sleeve L. This connection causes the spindle and the sleeve to move in unison, so that the water-passage and the steam-inlets are adjustable in essentially the same manner and with essentially the same effect as described in Letters Patent No. 393,488.

Passing now to the improvement which forms the principal subject of the present invention, M represents a lever pivoted at m to the spindle K and sustained at one end by a link m, joined to the body of the condenser, so thatas the lever is moved it serves to adjust both the spindle and the sleeve, and thus vary the capacity of the condenser. I connect the lever M by a rod 07: to a collar m encircling a vertical guide-rod M This collar is attached to a rod n, carrying apiston it within a vertical stationary cylinder N. Ports n and n lead from the upper and lower ends of the cylinder to a chamber a containing an ordinary slide-valve or D-Valve n, by which the ports may be connected alternately with an exhaust-port of. The valve-chamber n is constantly supplied through pipe 11 with any As the valve is moved to and fro the fluid is delivered into and out of the two ends of the cylinder N alternately, thus operating the piston, which in turn regulates the capacity of the condenser. When the valveis in its intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 4, so that both of the cylinder-ports are closed, the piston and its connections are held at rest.

For the purpose of operating the slidevalve I connect its spindle n by a link at or otherwise to an elbow-lever n which is drawn constantly downward atits middle by a spring a, but supported atopposite ends upon two vertical plungers n and 47. The plunger 11 enters the top of a closed chamber n, which communicates through a pipe n with a closed pipe n located in the pipe A, through which the condensing-water enters. The chamber and connecting-pipes are filled with an expansible fluidsuch as water, alcohol, or mercuryso that as the inflowing water rises or falls in temperature it will cause the expansion or contraction of the fluid, which will in turn raise or lower the plunger n, and through its connections move the slide-valve. The second plunger 01 is in like manner inserted into a chamber a, which communicates through a pipe n with a closed pipe n in the passage, through which the water is delivered from the condenser. This second chamber and its pipes are also filled with an expansible fluid, so that a rise or fall in the temperature of the outflowing water causes the plunger n to act through the intermediate parts upon the slidevalve. Thus it will be seen that the temperature of the inflowing and the temperature of the outfiowing water are applied jointly to control the slide-valve, and thereby vary the capacity of the condenser as variations inthe rate of steam admission may demand.

It will be observed that the chambers, their pipes and pistons, and the expansion-fluid are in effect merely thermostats, and it will be understood that they may be replaced by any other known form of thermostat-thatis to say, by any device which depends for its operation upon variations of temperature.

While I prefer to utilize the temperatures of both the inflowing and the outflowing water, and while the most perfect results are'attained in this manner, it is to be distinctly understood that good results may be secured by making use of thermostatic controlling de vices in the water-discharge pipe alone. In other words, the piston n and the chamber n may be omitted, in which case the valvecontrolling lever n? will be mounted on a fixed fulcrum, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4:.

It will of course be understood that the details of the valve mechanism herein shown are not of the essence of my invention, and that any equivalent valve controlled thermostatically and controlling in its turn the delivery of fluid to and from the piston 77/ may be employed. I

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the particular form of induction-condenser herein shown or to the particular arrangement of parts for varying the capacity of such condenser, the substance of the invention including the application of the thermostatic devices to vary the capacity of the condenser in any form or combination the equivalents of those herein shown.

Referring now to Fig. 5, which represents my apparatus applied to an ordinary independent air-pump condenser, 01 represents the throttle-valve through which steam is supplied to operate the reciprocating condenserpump, as usual. This valve, the equivalent of the valve bearing the same letterin Fig. 4, is controlled by connections of the same character, the several parts being indicated by like letters. The throttle-valve is attached to the piston-rod a, carrying the piston 71 in the cylinder N, which receives fluid through pipe 01 from any source of supply to cause the rising and falling motion of the piston. The delivery of fluid to and from this cylinder is controlled by a slide-valve operated by plungers in chambers which communicate, respectively, with the closed pipe rt in the water-inlet andpipe n in the water-outlet. The pipes and chambers are filled, as before, with an expansible fluid, and the temperature of the inflowing and outflowing water is applied through the fluid and intermediate connections to control the throttle n, and thus cause the pump to run faster or slower and deliver more or less water, as the volume of steam may demand. The arrows indicate the course of the water and steam through the apparatus. As the entire apparatus, with the exception of the regulator, is of ordinary construction and familiar to every skilled mechanic, a detailed description is unnecessary.

In Fig. 6,which represents an air-pump condenser worked from an engine, P represents the main shaft of the engine, and 19 its crank, operating through pitman p on one end of link 21 which is suspended at the opposite.

end by a radius-harp The link is connected to and operates the piston 19 of the condenserpump, the stroke of which may be increased or diminished by moving the link endwise in the manner familiar to every mechanic having a knowledge of the ordinary link-motion. The position of the link is varied by a rod 13 connecting the same to the pistonrod 07. of piston n in cylinder N. This cylinder is provided with ports and a controlling-valve, through which it receives an op crating-fluid from any suitable source. The

valve is controlled by thermostatic connections extending, respectively, to the waterinlet n and water-outlet 41 These parts are all constructed and operate in precisely the same manner as in the preceding examples, the variations in the temperature of the water causing the piston 41 to be moved, so that it in turn adjusts the link and changes the throw of the pump, so as to increase or diminish the water-supply, as may be required.

It is to be understood that the adjustable spindle K, (shown in Fig. 2,) the steam-controlling valve 07, of Fig. 5, and the link-machine of Fig. 6 for changing the stroke of the feedpump are but equivalent means for varying the capacity of the condensers, as shown by the respective figures.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination, a condenser and a thermostat subject to the influence of the condensing-water and acting to vary the capacity of the condenser through suitable connecting devices, substantially as described and shown.

2. In combination with a condenser, a thermostat subject to the influence of the outflowing water, and means, substantially as set forth, operated by the thermostat to control the water-delivery to the condenser, whereby the temperature of the outflowing water is caused to vary the water-supply in due relation to variations in the steam-supply.

3. In combination with a condenser and means, substantially as described,for changing the rate of water-delivery thereto, two thermostats, one subject to the inflowingwater and the other subject to the outflowing water, arranged to act jointly on the watercontrolling devices, substantially as described and shown.

4. In combination with an induction-condenser having the combining-tube and the adjustable spindle or equivalent adjustable devices to vary the steam and Water passages, as usual, and a thermostatic device subject to the water flowing through the apparatus, said elements combined for joint operation substantially as described and shown.

5. The induction-condenser having the adjustable sleeve and spindle, in combination with the cylinder and pistons for moving them, the piston-controlling valve, and ther mostatic devices subject to the influence of the condensing-water for operating the contiollingvalve.

6. In a condenser provided with means of water-supply and with means, substantially as described, for changing the rate of supply, two thermostats subject, respectively, to the inflowing and outflowing Water, a lever connected at opposite ends to the respective thermostats, and connections for communicating motion from said lever to the water-controlling devices.

7. In combination with a cylinder and piston, a valve controlling the delivery of an actuating-fluid thereto, a lever to control the valve, and two independent thermostats acting to move the lever in opposite directions. when subjected, respectively, to an increasing temperature.

8. In an induction-condenser having the mixing-tube with forwardly-inclined openings for steam admission, the central longitudinally adjustable spindle having the pointed exposed end.

9. In an induction-condenser having the mixing-tube With the steam-inlet slits therethrough,the central spindle, the sleeve surrounding the tube, and the sleeve-controlling rod attached directly to the head of the spindle, as shown.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my 10 hand, this 9th day of December, 1889, 111 the presence of two attesting Witnesses.

LOUIS SCHUTTE.

Vitnesses DANIEL HILDRETH, FRANK SPILLIN. 

